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W. J.- EDWARDS.

VELOCIPEDB.

No. 475,445. Patented May 24, 1892.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheefis-Sheet 2.

W. J. EDWARDS.

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Ma (No Model.) Sheets-8heet 3 w. J; EDWARDS. VELOOIPEDB'.

No. 475,445. 4 Patented May 24,1892.

(No ModeL) .6 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. J. EDWARDS. VELOGIPEDE'.

No. 475,445. PatentedMay 24, 1892.

2522/6727 AW JW (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

W. J. EDWARDS.

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented May 24, 1892.

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VELOGIPEDE.

No. 475,445. Patented May 24,1892. 7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I/VILLIAM J. EDIVARDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION MANUFACTURING AND PLATING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,445, dated May 24, 1892.

Application filed November 5, 1891. Serial No. 411,014. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: ing mechanism in elevation,so asto illustrate Be it known that I, WVILLIAM J. EDWARDS, the detachable connection between the vertia citizen of the United States, residing at Chical brake-rod and a bell-crank lever on the cage, in the county of Cook and State of Illimachine-frame. Fig. is a side view of said 55 5 nois, have invented a certain new and useful bell-crank on a larger scale. Fig. 6 repre- Improvement in Velocipedes, of which the sents a section through Fig. 4 on line 00 00', following is a specification. on a larger scale, so as to show the bell- The more prominent objects of my invencrank in top plan view. Fig. 7 is a section tion are to protect the sprocket wheel and on line a m in Fig. 6, and illustrates the 60 [0 chain from mud and dirt thrown from the adseparable ball-and-socket connection between jacent supporting-wheel; to provide an exthe vertical brake-rod and the bell-crank. ceedihgly serviceable and efiective arrange- Fig. 8 represents the body-frame in perspecment of mud-guard and brake-spoon; to pertive. Fig. 9 shows, on a larger scale, one mit an automatic disconnection in the brake of the side hangers arranged at the point of 65 mechanism in case of an accidental fall on union of the side members of the frame. the part of the machine and twist on the part Figs. 10, 11, and 12 show, on a larger scale than of the steering-head, and thereby avoid in- Fig. 8, the upper middle portion of the reach, jury to the brake mechanism by torsional said figures being, respectively, a top plan strain; to simplify and improve the sprocketpartly in longitudinal central section, a lon- 7o axle hearings; to permit the sprocket -aXle gitudiual central section on an approximately bearings to be readily removed and replaced; horizontal plane, and a side elevation. Fig. to provide certain improved details in the 13 is a section on a vertical central plane taken frame, so as to render the same strong and longitudinally through the sprocket-axle and durable without adding to the weight, and to sprocket and bearings for the sprocket-axle. 7 5 provide certain further improved details, all Fig. 14. is a like section through-a portion of serving to increase the general efficiency of the sprocket-axle and one of the bearings on velocipedes. a larger scale than in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is asec- My said invention involves various mattionthroughoneofthe sprocket-axle bearings ters which are applicable to velocipedes genon line y y in Fig. 14:. Fig. 16 represents in 80 erally. Said matters and all remaining feaperspective a portion of one of the sprockettures involved are, however, particularly apaxle bearings. Figs. 17 and 18 showin difierplicable to bicycles, and hence I have herein ent'positions one of the double-armed jointillustrated and described the same as involved pieces shown in section in Fig. 11. in the construction of a Safety bicycle, it be- The brake-spoon A (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3) is 85 5 ing understood that where serviceablein other made concave in cross-section throughout its forms of velocipedes the same can be so aplength, and is arranged as a downward explied. tension or continuation of the mud-guard B In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 for the rear supporting-wheel C, the general represents, in side elevation, a portion of a effect being amud-guard arranged over and 0 40 Safety bicycle embodying myinvention. Fig. in front of the wheel and extending below the 2 represents, on a larger scale, a section on a lowest portions of the sprocket D and drivvertical plane through the brake-spoon, a poring-chain E, so as to prevent any mud or dirt tion of the rear wheel, and a portion of the from being thrown from the wheelonto either brake mechanism. Fig. 3 represents the brakethe sprocket or the driving-chain,wl1ile at the 95 spoon and a portion of the supporting-frame same time I utilize this extension or prolongafor the same in front elevation, the remaintion of the mud-guard as a brake-spoon or ing portion of the brake mechanism shown in brake, which by operating any suitably-ar- Fig. 2 being omitted. Fig. 4 is a section taken ranged mechanism can be applied to the wheel transversely through the body-frame on line at the willofthe rider. By making the brake- 10c 00 5c in Fig. 1, and shows the steering-head, spoon concave in cross-section, as best illushandle-bar, and forward portion of the steertrated in Fig. 2, it will be provided with down- 65 thrown downupon its side.

sprocket axle.

w'ardly-widening sides 1, and will form a guard for the wheel at a point where in machines-such, for example, as the Columbia-dirt can be thrown freely from the wheel onto the chain and sprocket regardless of the presence of the brake-spoon, which in said'machines is not adapted to shield the sprocket and chain.

The body-frame involves in common with to old and well-known constructions of machines the feature of arranging the three members of the frame which converge at or about the pedal-crank axle double or forked through, the whole-or a portion of their lengths, was

to permit the driving-chain to bemounted on the pedal-crank axle between said members of the frame, as in United States Letters Patent to R. Watsor,No. 363,189, ofMay 17, 1887, British Letters Patent/No. 13,782 of 1886, and

many others, it being observed, however, that I do not, asin said United States Letters Patent No. 363,189, connect the lower divided portion of the frame with a steering-post.

Theframe F comprises a reach or backbone F, rear triangular frame portions F united at their upper forward corners with the reach, and a divided lower portion F which unites with the lower forward corners of the triangular frame portions F but which 0 inplaee of being attached to the steeringpost' is at its forward end rigidly united with a vertically-arrangedtubular frame portion orsocket 2, which forms the forward end of the frame and holds the reach-F, and also 5 provides a socketbearing for the steeringpost F to turn in.

The rear portion of the body-frame is divided, being formed by the two triangular frames F which are arranged, respectively,

at opposite sides of .the rear wheel, and which 'are at their lower forward corner portions separated to an extent to provide between them suitable space for the sprocket-wheel and a portionof the brake mechanism, and

5 also separated to an extent to permit the two joints formed at the points of junction be tween the frame portions F and the sides 3 of the lower divided frame portion F to provide supports for the bearings for the sprock- 5o et-axle 1 at points outside of the sprocketwheel, as hereinafter more particularly described. A novel and important feature in thisparticular construction of body-frame consists in the cross-bar G, arranged as a braceandstay connection between the sides 3 of the lower forwardly-arranged divided portion F of the body-frame. This combined brace and staybar is arranged adjacent to and forwardly of the sprocket-wheel D, and

not only steadies and strengthens the entire axle and its bearings will be insured.

. be found desirable.

These bearings, which are supported by hangers or holders I at the j unctions of the rods 3 5 6, Fig. 8, of the divided bodyframe, must be held rigidly and steadily apart at a fixed distance, and hence said hangers or holders I must be held rigidly apart ata fixed'distance, it being observed that such conditions are necessary in order to insure perfectly-true working between the sprocket-axle and its bearings. The foregoing rigidity of connection between the holders for the hangers is attained by the crossbar G, which resists any and all tendency on the part of the divided frame to either contract or spring apart, and hence true, steady, and accurate working between the sprocket- The cross-bar G may also provide a support for the forward end of a brake-spoon spring, as in my application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 397,018, filed June 22, 1891, or, as herein illustrated, it can serve as a fulcral support for the brake-lever K, Figs. 1 and 2, which is at one end connected with the brake-spoon by a spring 7 and at its opposite end connected with the brakespoon by an adj nstable connection 8, consisting of a two-part extensible link which can be lengthened or shortened so as to vary the position of the brake-spoon to the whee1that is to say, set the brake-spoon either farther out from or closer up to the wheel, as may Said link, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises asection which is hinged to the brake-spoon and a section which is hinged to lever K and adj ustably held in a socket 9 in said first-mentioned section by a set-screw 10. The bar G has its ends rigidly united with the side rods 3 of the body-frame, and is desirablyformed with eyes 11, through which the side rods 3 are arranged to extend, it being understood that the rods 3, 5, and 6 can be either solid or tubular, as may be desired.

Returning now to the brake-spoon (see particularly Figs. 2 and 3) the body-frame is provided wit-h a cross-piece L, which serves to hold both the forward lower end of the mudguard 13 and the hinged end of the brakespoon. The cross-piece Lassists, as a matter of course, in bracing and staying the divided frame, but is of minor importance for such purpose in comparison with the cross-piece G, owing to the difierence in their respective locations and relations to the strain incurred. The cross-piece L is provided with end eyes or sockets 12 for the side rods 5 of the bodyframe and crosses the mud-guard B, which has its lower end secured to the flattened middle portion 13 of the cross-piece by a bolt or screw 14. The cross-piece is also provided at its middle portion with a notch 15 and lugs 16, arranged at opposite ends of the notch and adapted to form pintle-bearings for a piutle 17, which extends through a long eye or bearing 18 on the upper end of the brakespoon A, it being observed that the notch 15 provides space for the pintle eye or hearing 18, as in an ordinary hinge.

on the bell-crank.

By such arrangement the'cross-plate L covers the line of separation between the lower end of the mudguard B and upper end of the hinged brakespoon A, and while assisting in bracing and staying the divided frame affords a simple, convenient, and firm support for the brakespoon. This arrangement also permits the brake-spoon to be made in a simple and economical way, and simplifies both the manufacture of the same and its application to the machine. The foregoing-described arrangement of parts also permits the devices directly acting upon the brake-spoon to be arranged exactly midway of the space between the two divisions of the body-frame and to have their supports at such middle points, thereby avoiding any tendency to exert diagonal strain on the body-frame- The lever K is fulcrumed upon the crossbar G and operated hya rod or link 19, Figs. 1 and 6, which extends forwardly from the lever K and connects with one of the arms of a double-armed lever or bell-crank M at the front end of the machine. The frame is provided at the point of union between rods 3 and its forwardly-arranged socket portion or head 2 with an eye 20, which serves as a bearingfor the pivot 21 of the bell-crank M. The rear arm 22 of this bell-crank is bent laterally toward the middle longitudinal line of the machine, so as to allow the connecting rod or link 19 to lie in said line. "The forwardly-extending arm 23 of the bell-crank is bent outwardly, so as to extend to one side of the head or socket portion 2 of the body frame and place its forward end in proper position to connect with the vertically-ar ranged brake-rod 24, which stands alongside the steering-head and post and connects at its upper end with the inner end of a brake lever 25 on one of the handle-bars 26, Fig. 4:. As a connection between the rod 24 and bellcrank M, I provide a detachable balland-socket connection, the ball 27 being preferably on the rod, Fig. 7, and the socket 28 The socket is cup-shaped and receives the ball 27, which is formed by a rounded end of the rod. For all purposes of use the integrity of the ball-and-socket joint will be preserved; but in case the machine should fall over and the handle-bar swing round with the front wheel (which will usually swing round and under) the connection between the rod and bell-crank will automatically sever and thus prevent breakage.

on the part of the front wheel in case of the.

aforesaid-mentioned accident is so great as to draw the rod beyond the limit at which the spring will preserve connection between the rod and socket, and hence in place of a breakage occurring at such point the joint in the brake mechanism will simply separate and thus avoid any and all torsional strain upon such mechanism.

The sprocket-axle is supported by separately-arranged bearings, and these said bearings are respectively supported by one and the other of a couple of hangers or holders I, whereof the construction is bestillustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The body-frame is constructed, as hereinbefore set forth, with a divided portion whereof each side comprises three rods or members 3 5 6, arranged to converge toward one of the hangers. Each hanger or holder consists of a divided ring having its upper fixed half 29 united to a set of said side rods or members 3 5 6 by brazing or the like, so as to be permanently rigid with the same, and a lower movable half 30, hinged at one end, as at 31, to the upper half, and having its opposite end extended outwardly to form a jaw 32, which can be secured to a like portion 33, formed by an extension of one end of the upper half of the annular hanger or holder by a bolt 34 and nut 35. By such arrangement the bearings can be arranged within and clamped by the hangers or holders I, which latter can be opened preparatory to introducing or removing said bearings, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, wherein the lower half of one of the hangers is shown unfastened and allowed to swing down. By such arrangement a simple and light construction of hangers or holders for the sprocket-axle bearings is provided, it being seen that the body-frame is constructed with a divided portion, whereof each division comprises a set of solid or tubular side rods 3 5 6, which converge toward and are rigidly and permanently united by a half-ring 29, to which is hinged the half-ring 30, inorder that a bearing for the sprocket-axle can be clamped between the two. It willalso be seen that the upper half-ring or semicircular upper portion 29 of each holder or hanger forms an archshaped piece, to which the three bars or members 3, 5, and 6 of its allotted side of the iongitudinally-divided frame are rigidly and permanently united, and that by movably applying the lower half-ring or lower semicircular portion 30 of the hanger to said upper portion 29 of the same the hanger can be opened without disturbing the connection of said part 29, which preserves its integrity as an arch-shaped connection between the three frame members 3, 5, and 6, which practically radiate from the middle and two end portions of the part-circular piece.

The bearings for the sprocket-axle are each constructed with an internally-threaded ring or sleeve 36, (see Figs. 13 to 16,) into which is screwed from opposite sides a couple of bearing-caps H, each formed with an externallythreaded cylindric portion 37, having at its inner end an annular obliquelyarranged flange 38 and at its outer end an annular? fiange39. The inclined or oblique flanges 38 at the 5 inner endsofi the eylindric bearing-caps prouvidean outer'two-part .annular bearing-face for a set of anti-friction balls 40, foriwhich" an inner annular bearing-face 41 is pro vided= by grooving an enlarged portion 42 of 1 the axle. This enlarged portion of the axleis also provided with a couple of annular grooves 43," irespectively, at opposite sides of the groove 41,and each serving to hold a ring 44, of'paraffineor other material-such as felt or the like, I5 adapted toreceive "the edge portion of 'one' of the annularvfianges 38. The flanged ring or bearingcaps Hare secured into theinteranally-threaded sleeve 36,-and are provided at their outer ends with annular flanges=39,which 2o serve as guards. The internallyth readedsleeve 36 :is provided with an opening 46; :throu gh which the anti-friction balls can bepassed to their allotted track. Thus when the ringeaps 1H are screwed'only part way 2 5 into sleeve 36, so as to leavehole46 therein open, the balls can be introducedby way orsaid hole into the annular space between the axle, flanges 38, and portion of sleeve 36 be tween 'theinner ends of the ring caps,-after which the. ring caps can :be screwed upso as to cover the hole 46 and hence confine the balls within an annular space formed between: -the axle and the sloping flanges 38.

The foregoing arrangementrenders the ap-* plication and removal of one or more of anti-' friction balls an easy and convenient matter. Thesleeve-36 is split ordivided at points suitable for renderingit elastic and capable of compression upon the ring caps or bearings 40 H, so as to hold the latter against turning, and tosuch end the sleeve i is provided with slots or notches 47, which extendfrom its edgeportions transversely and part way only across the sleeve and which serve to splitor divide it at points suitable for the purpose aforesaid; The. hangers or holders 1 are adapted to encircle and clamp the sleeves 36, and by tightening up nuts 35 on the bolts which are applied to the holdersI thelatter can be clampett upon theelastic sleeves 36,so as to clamp the latter upon their respectively-allotted pairs of caps or bearings H, and hence prevent thelatter from turning.

As a matter of further improvement, thesleeve 36 is reduced in thickness between its edge portions, in which way it is provided witha comparatively thin annular middlepor tion 36 and with thickened-up annular edge portions 36, through which the short trans- 6o versely-arranged slits are formed, it being observed that the sleeve is thus thickened up along itsperimeter, so as to permit it to have astraight cylindric threaded bore. This construction permits the hangerto olamp npon -the thickened edge portions 36 only of the sleeve, and thereby leaves the unslitted middle portion of the sleeve free to-act as a springfl the'tworpart bearing, and since these edge portions arecomparatively thick they will withstand the pressure, while at the same time the entire unslitted annular portion of the sleevewill be leftas a spring-body common to the edge portions between the slits, therebyproviding a highly-elastic sleeve and at the same time avoiding breakage.

The reach or upper .portion of the bodyframe (see-particularly Figs. 10, 11,ancl 12) comprisesa single backbone portion F ,which is at its rear end united with a divided frame portion formed by the rods 5 5 and 48 48 ot' the frame portions :F The backbone F comprisesasolid metal portion 49,-t0 one end of which is secured the tubular'portion 50. The solid metal portion 49 is provided at a point betweenits ends with a socket =51 fora :seatstandard, and is at its rearend formed with a couple *of short laterally-projecting arms 52. Each of said arms or lateral projections 52 hasits end formed with a conical recess or seat 53, which receives the conical side portion 54 (see, also, Figs. 17 and 18) of a doublearmed or prongedcoupling-piece N.

These double armed or pronged couplingpieces are applied as in Fig. 11 and an internally-threaded sleeve 55 extendedthrough the two couplings N and the laterally-extended end portion of t the backbone portion 49, so as to passthrough both of the arms 52 thereof. The parts thus arranged are brazed together, with pins:P inserted into thetube 55, it being understood that at each side of the double or dividedbody frame portion a tube 5 and a tube 48 are secured, respectively,

to one and the other of the two arms or prongs 56 and 57 of one of the couplings N.

The pins P are shown threaded, but will be securely held in place 'by the operation of brazing, whether threaded or otherwise.

VVhatI claim as my invention is- 1. In alongitudinally-divided bicycle-frame such as set forth, the two-part hangers for the sprocket-axle bearings, each comprising an upper semicircular portion 29, forming a di- "rect and permanently rigid arch-shaped connection between the forwardly and upwardly extending main sidemembers 3, 5, and 6 of a side of the frame and to such end united at a one of its ends with one of the lower forwardly-extending side members 3 and at its middle and opposite end portions, respectively,

united with one of the upwardly-extending middle members 5 and with one of the rearwardly-extendingmembers 6, and a lower semicircular portion movably applied to the tended end portion 33 and forming a direct and rigid arch-shaped connection between the forwardly, rearwardly, and upwardly extending side members 3, 5, and 6 of one side of the frame and to such end directly united at its extended end portion 33 with the side member 3 and at its middle and opposite end portions united, respectively, with the side members 5 and 6, and the lower semicircular portion 30, hinged at one end to one end of the semicircular upper portion of the hanger and at its opposite end bolted to the under side of the end extension of said upper semicircular portion which unites with the frame member 3, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with a set of anti-friction balls arranged about a velocipede-axle and an outer externally-threaded two-part bearing for the anti-friction balls, of an internally-threaded elastic sleeve 36, into which the parts of the bearing are screwed, said sleeve being provided with and rendered elastic by reason of a series of transversely-arranged slits 47, extending from its edge portions part way only across the sleeve, and a hanger within which the sleeve is clamped, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of the axle provided with an annular groove and a two-part bearing providing about the axle an annular divided bearing-surface surrounding the groove in the axle and adapted for a set of anti-friction balls arranged in saidgroove, and a sleeve into which the divisions of the two-part hearing are screwed, said sleeve being provided with an opening 46, through which the balls can pass when the divisions of the two-part bearing are separated for such purpose, but still held within the sleeve, substantially as described.

5. In a velocipede, the hinged brake-spoon A, constructed and arranged to form a continuation of the mud-guard B and to shield the sprocket wheel and chain, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the hinged brakespoon A, of the lever K, fulcrumed upon a cross-bar G in the body-frame and connected with the hinged brake-spoon, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the hinged brakespoon A, of the lever K, spring 7, connecting one end of the lever with the brake-spoon, and an adjustable link forming a connection between the brake-spoon and the other end of said lever, substantially as described.

8. The mud-guard 13, arranged over wheel 0 and between the two frame portions F of the body-frame, and a cross bar or plate L, secured to the lower forward end of the mudguard and supported by the rods 5 of said frame portions, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the mud-guard B, of the plate L, secured to the lower forward end of the mud-guard and held by rods 5 of the body-frame, and the brakespoon A, hinged to said plate, substantially as set forth.

10. In a brake-operating mechanism having points of support upon the handle-bar and body-frame, an automatically-separable joint arranged to part of its own accord when the handle-bar is swung round to an undue extent, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of the lever M, sup ported on the body-frame, and a connectingrod connected with a hand-lever upon the steering-handle and having an automaticallyseparable connection with the lever M, arranged so as to part of its own accord when the handle-bar is swung round to an undue extent, substantially as described.

12. The combinatiomwith the rear Wheel 0, of the hinged brake-spoon A,the lever K, connected with the brake-spoon, the lever M, connected with the lever K by a rod 19, a handlever 25 on the steering-handle, and rod 241, connecting said hand-lever with the lever M, substantially as set forth.

-13. The portion 49 of the backbone, provided with laterally-projecting arms 52, combined with the triangular frame portions F having their upper forward corner portions formed by the couplings N, secured against the ends of said arms of the backbone, substantially as described.

14. The rear portion of the backbone, combined with frame portions F having their upper forward corners formed by couplings N, a tube 55, extending through said couplings I00 and rear end of said rear portion of the backbone, and screws P, engaging in the ends of said tube, substantially as set forth.

15. The backbone having its rear end portion provided with seats 53 and a transverse- [o5 ly-arranged bore, the frame portions F, having their forward upper corners formed by couplings N, provided with portions 54:, fitted to seats 53, and a tube 55, extending through the couplings and the said bore in the back no bone, substantially as described.

16. The combination, in a velocipede, of an outer bearing for the anti-friction balls, an internally-threaded sleeve receiving and engaging with said bearing and having a re- :15 duced middle portion 36 and thickened slitted edge portions 36", and a hanger or clamp within which the sleeve is held and which bears upon said thickened slitted edge portions of the sleeve, substantially as and for 120 the purpose described.

WILLIAM J. EDWARDS. \Vitnesses:

W. D. MIDDLETON, OHAs. G. PAGE. 

